20 years of intercultural spirit
„based in Passau“.

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Global Mobilty mit Dr.Fritz Audebert CEO ICUnet

Bild: Dr. Fritz Audebert, CEO und Gründer von ICUnet

 

2001: First steps towards internationalisation.

A good 20 years ago, Dr Fritz Audebert founded a visionary idea that he would take from Passau into the world: when companies send their employees abroad, professional expertise alone is not enough. Only those who know the culture of the new country and can interpret its signs will be successful in the long run. With ICUnet, he offered companies intercultural know-how, perfect analysis tools and a comprehensive on-site service by locally experienced consultants.

ICUnet – what exactly is behind it?
The company name stands for „intercultural network” and „international community”. It also includes a clever play on words, „I see you in the Internet”.

 

2002: German Founders Prize for ICUnet.

After only a short time, the Passau-based company was awarded the renowned German Founders Prize in the category „Concept” in 2002. Dr Fritz Audebert and his board colleague, Doreen Thielemann, attended the award ceremony in the presence of the German President Johannes Rau. In 2006, ICUnet was nominated again in the category „Rising Star”. Since then, the globally active company has won more than 60 different national and international awards.

 

Johannes Rau bei einer ICUnet Veranstaltung
Picture (from left): Founder and CEO of the ICUnet, Dr Fritz Audebert, Federal President Johannes Rau and board member of the ICUnet, Doreen Thielemann, at the award ceremony of the German Founders Prize in 2002.
Video: Impressions of the Intercultural Congress New Horizons in the European City of Passau

2010: The Intercultural Congress New Horizons.

Europe’s leading intercultural congress New Horizons took place for the seventh time in 2010. Under the motto „using interculture successfully”, top-class experts in intercultural management and international cooperation met in the heart of Europe. More than 250 experts and managers took part in this congress organised by ICUnet in Passau.

2011: 10 locations and over 100 employees.

Ten years after its founding, over 100 employees accompany more than 1,000 professionals and managers each year on their way to international assignments. Since then, new ICUnet services have supported companies in analysing and selecting qualified employees for international assignments.

Photo: Dr Fritz Audebert (front left) and Doreen Thielemann (front centre) with their rapidly growing international team.
Video: The Intercultural Congress New Horizons as a trendsetter in global mobility, intercultural counselling, and competence development as well as assessment.

2012: Success story of the Intercultural Congress continues.

Ten years ago, the success story of the Intercultural Congress started at the ICUnet location in Passau. Hundreds of decision-makers from the business world and international experts discussed current global trends. Excellent practical workshops on topics such as diversity, global mobility and trends in expatriate management rounded off the event.

2013: 10th anniversary of the Intercultural Congress.

With a focus on „Communicate. Integrate. Celebrate.”, the 10th ICUnet Intercultural Congress took place in Passau in 2013. Over 2500 participants from more than 25 nations experienced inspirational speakers such as Prof. Dave Ulrich (HR expert), Philipp Mountford (CEO Hunkemöller) and Thilo Kuther (CEO Pixomondo). The variety of topics, the exclusivity of the speakers and the practical workshops guarantee the 10-year success of Europe’s unique HR industry meeting.

Video: Review of the 10th Intercultural Congress
Video: Impressions of the opening ceremony of the new location in Shanghai

2013: New location in Shanghai.

To meet the increased demands of its clients, ICUnet opened its new office in Shanghai in January 2013. Thanks to many years of experience in international markets, ICUnet further expanded its expertise with its branch office in China. In China, ICUnet offers its clients intercultural follow-up training for expatriates on site and qualifies Chinese employees for international cooperation.

2015: First „#rethinkeurope” congress.

In 2015, the first international ICUnet congress was held under the motto #rethinkeurope, a topic close to the heart of founder Dr Fritz Audebert. As part of this initiative, the Bavarian state government hosted the state reception, the address was given by Dr Fritz Audebert. The annual congress with renowned speakers has always attracted hundreds of top-class guests from business and politics to the „Three Rivers City”.

Photo: Dr Fritz Audebert, initiator of the international #rethinkeurope congress, during his festive speech at the state reception of the Bavarian State Government.
Video: ICUnet Orange Team Meeting 2015 at the Lusen in the Bavarian Forest National Park

2015: Orange Team Meeting in the Bavarian Forest National Park.

What ICUnet has become in the last 14 years was shown at the Orange Team Meeting at Lusen in the Bavarian Forest National Park. Over 100 employees took part in the team building event. „Understanding customers and each other, they lived diversity and the noticeably great collegial cohesion – this corporate culture makes us, the ICUnet, strong and successful,” said Dr Fritz Audebert in an interview about the whole Orange team.

2018: ICUnet.Group takes off in Mexico.

Globally, ICUnet.Group has offices in Vienna (Austria), Lucerne (Switzerland), Dubai (UAE), Shanghai (China) and São Paulo (Brazil). In 2018, the newly established office in Mexico was added. The new location’s convenient geographic location allows ICUnet.Group to respond quickly to current market developments throughout the North American region.

Video: Impressions from the opening of the new location in Mexico
Video: #rethinkeurope congress on Europe

2018: Europe in the focus of #rethinkeurope

For the fourth time, the most important congress on Europe outside of Brussels or Strasbourg took place in Passau, the European city and hometown of #rethinkeurope. The congress took a close look at European development in the context of global change. The event as part of the #rethinkeurope initiative serves as a platform for constructive exchange between European business and politics.

2019: Orange Team Meeting in Aldersbach.

The entire Orange Team of the ICUnet.Group with more than 160 employees spent two exciting days at the monastery in Aldersbach. Topics such as innovation and global journey, internationalisation and global mobility were the focus of this Orange Team Event.

Video: ICUnet Orange Team Event, 2019 in Aldersbach.
Image: In 2021, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary.

2021: Competent worldwide in more than 75 countries.

20 years after its foundation, ICUnet.Group advises and accompanies companies in the secondment of thousands of specialists and executives per year. The heart of ICUnet.Group is the interdisciplinary team of experts consisting of 180 permanent and 350 freelance employees worldwide. They are at home in 75 countries, speak 25 languages and, thanks to their advice and support, enable companies to successfully exploit intercultural potential.

2022: First virtual
„#(p)rethinkeurope” state reception.

The (p)rethinkeurope project hosted Bavaria’s first virtual state reception. Leading personalities from business, science and politics met in the online panel. They discussed what makes Bavaria strong in and for Europe – and what it needs to be even more successful globally.

Picture (from top left to bottom right): Initiator of the #(p)rethinkeurope project Dr Fritz Audebert, President of the University of Passau, Prof. Dr Ulrich Bartosch, Chairman of the EPP Group, Manfred Weber and Bavarian Minister of State for European Affairs and International Affairs, Melanie Huml, took part in the discussion of the first virtual state reception.
Global Mobilty mit Dr.Fritz Audebert CEO ICUnet

Picture: Founder and CEO of the ICUnet, Dr Fritz Audebert

2001: First steps towards internationalisation.

A good 20 years ago, Dr Fritz Audebert founded a visionary idea that he would take from Passau into the world: when companies send their employees abroad, professional expertise alone is not enough. Only those who know the culture of the new country and can interpret its signs will be successful in the long run. With ICUnet, he offered companies intercultural know-how, perfect analysis tools and a comprehensive on-site service by locally experienced consultants.

ICUnet – what exactly is behind it?

The company name stands for „intercultural network” and „international community”. It also includes a clever play on words, „I see you in the Internet”.

Johannes Rau bei einer ICUnet Veranstaltung

Picture (from left): Founder and CEO of the ICUnet, Dr Fritz Audebert, Federal President Johannes Rau and board member of the ICUnet, Doreen Thielemann, at the award ceremony of the German Founders Prize in 2002.

2002: German Founders Prize for ICUnet.

After only a short time, the Passau-based company was awarded the renowned German Founders Prize in the category „Concept” in 2002. Dr Fritz Audebert and his board colleague, Doreen Thielemann, attended the award ceremony in the presence of the German President Johannes Rau. In 2006, ICUnet was nominated again in the category „Rising Star”. Since then, the globally active company has won more than 60 different national and international awards.

Video: Impressions of the Intercultural Congress New Horizons in the European City of Passau

2010: The Intercultural Congress New Horizons.

Europe’s leading intercultural congress New Horizons took place for the seventh time in 2010. Under the motto „using interculture successfully”, top-class experts in intercultural management and international cooperation met in the heart of Europe. More than 250 experts and managers took part in this congress organised by ICUnet in Passau.

Photo: Dr Fritz Audebert (front left) and Doreen Thielemann (front centre) with their rapidly growing international team.

2011: 10 locations and over 100 employees.

Ten years after its founding, over 100 employees accompany more than 1,000 professionals and managers each year on their way to international assignments. Since then, new ICUnet services have supported companies in analysing and selecting qualified employees for international assignments.

Video: The Intercultural Congress New Horizons as a trendsetter in global mobility, intercultural counselling, and competence development as well as assessment.

2012: Success story of the Intercultural Congress continues.

Nine years ago, the success story of the Intercultural Congress started at the ICUnet location in Passau. Hundreds of decision-makers from the business world and international experts discussed current global trends. Excellent practical workshops on topics such as diversity, global mobility and trends in expatriate management rounded off the event.

Video: Review of the 10th Intercultural Congress

2013: 10th anniversary of the Intercultural Congress.

With a focus on „Communicate. Integrate. Celebrate.”, the 10th ICUnet Intercultural Congress took place in Passau in 2013. Over 2500 participants from more than 25 nations experienced inspirational speakers such as Prof. Dave Ulrich (HR expert), Philipp Mountford (CEO Hunkemöller) and Thilo Kuther (CEO Pixomondo). The variety of topics, the exclusivity of the speakers and the practical workshops guarantee the 10-year success of Europe’s unique HR industry meeting.

 

Video: Impressions of the opening ceremony of the new location in Shanghai

2013: New location in Shanghai.

To meet the increased demands of its clients, ICUnet opened its new office in Shanghai in January 2013. Thanks to many years of experience in international markets, ICUnet further expanded its expertise with its branch office in China. In China, ICUnet offers its clients intercultural follow-up training for expatriates on site and qualifies Chinese employees for international cooperation.

Photo: Dr Fritz Audebert, initiator of the international #rethinkeurope congress, during his festive speech at the state reception of the Bavarian State Government.

2015: First „#rethinkeurope” congress.

In 2015, the first international ICUnet congress was held under the motto #rethinkeurope, a topic close to the heart of founder Dr Fritz Audebert. As part of this initiative, the Bavarian state government hosted the state reception, the address was given by Dr Fritz Audebert. The annual congress with renowned speakers has always attracted hundreds of top-class guests from business and politics to the „Three Rivers City”.

Video: ICUnet Orange Team Meeting 2015 at the Lusen in the Bavarian Forest National Park

2015: Orange Team Meeting in the Bavarian Forest National Park.

What ICUnet has become in the last 14 years was shown at the Orange Team Meeting at Lusen in the Bavarian Forest National Park. Over 100 employees took part in the team building event. „Understanding customers and each other, they lived diversity and the noticeably great collegial cohesion – this corporate culture makes us, the ICUnet, strong and successful,” said Dr Fritz Audebert in an interview about the whole Orange team.

Video: Impressions from the opening of the new location in Mexico

2018: ICUnet.Group takes off in Mexico.

Globally, ICUnet.Group has offices in Vienna (Austria), Lucerne (Switzerland), Dubai (UAE), Shanghai (China) and São Paulo (Brazil). In 2018, the newly established office in Mexico was added. The new location’s convenient geographic location allows ICUnet.Group to respond quickly to current market developments throughout the North American region.

Video: #rethinkeurope congress on Europe

2018: Europe in the focus of #rethink-europe

For the fourth time, the most important congress on Europe outside of Brussels or Strasbourg took place in Passau, the European city and hometown of #rethinkeurope. The congress took a close look at European development in the context of global change. The event as part of the #rethinkeurope initiative serves as a platform for constructive exchange between European business and politics.

Video: ICUnet Orange Team Event, 2019 in Aldersbach.

2019: Orange Team Meeting in Aldersbach.

The entire Orange Team of the ICUnet.Group with more than 160 employees spent two exciting days at the monastery in Aldersbach. Topics such as innovation and global journey, internationalisation and global mobility were the focus of this Orange Team Event.

Image: In 2021, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary.

2021: Competent worldwide in more than 75 countries.

20 years after its foundation, ICUnet.Group advises and accompanies companies in the secondment of thousands of specialists and executives per year. The heart of ICUnet.Group is the interdisciplinary team of experts consisting of 180 permanent and 350 freelance employees worldwide. They are at home in 75 countries, speak 25 languages and, thanks to their advice and support, enable companies to successfully exploit intercultural potential.

Picture (from top left to bottom right): Initiator of the #(p)rethinkeurope project Dr Fritz Audebert, President of the University of Passau, Prof. Dr Ulrich Bartosch, Chairman of the EPP Group, Manfred Weber and Bavarian Minister of State for European Affairs and International Affairs, Melanie Huml, took part in the discussion of the first virtual state reception.

2022: First virtual
„#(p)rethinkeurope” state reception.

The (p)rethinkeurope project hosted Bavaria’s first virtual state reception. Leading personalities from business, science and politics met in the online panel. They discussed what makes Bavaria strong in and for Europe – and what it needs to be even more successful globally.